title: Long-term effects of LCPUFA supplementation on childhood cognitive outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) intake on cognitive development is controversial. Most randomized trials have assessed cognition at 18 mo, although significant development of cognitive abilities (early executive function) emerge later.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to evaluate cognition beyond 18 mo and longitudinal cognitive change from 18 mo to 6 y in children who were fed variable amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (0.32%, 0.64%, and 0.96% of total fatty acids) and arachidonic acid (ARA; 0.64%) compared with children who were not fed LCPUFA as infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one children (19 placebo, 62 LCPUFA) who participated in a double-blind, randomized trial of LCPUFA supplementation as infants were re-enrolled at 18 mo and tested every 6 mo until 6 y on age-appropriate standardized and specific cognitive tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LCPUFA supplementation did not influence performance on standardized tests of language and performance at 18 mo; however, significant positive effects were observed from 3 to 5 y on rule-learning and inhibition tasks, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at 5 y, and the Weschler Primary Preschool Scales of Intelligence at 6 y. Effects of LCPUFAs were not found on tasks of spatial memory, simple inhibition, or advanced problem solving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from this relatively small trial suggest that, although the effects of LCPUFAs may not always be evident on standardized developmental tasks at 18 mo, significant effects may emerge later on more specific or fine-grained tasks. The results imply that studies of nutrition and cognitive development should be powered to continue through early childhood. This parent trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00266825.
authors.affiliation: Schiefelbusch Life Span Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. scarlson@kumc.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cheatham
authors.forename: D Jill
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shaddy
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kerling
authors.forename: Jocelynn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thodosoff
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brez
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated